Is the tetanus shot safe?

Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
Updated on March 17, 2025
00:00
00:00

It is safe to receive tetanus treatment at an accredited hospital. There are two types of tetanus injections: the tetanus toxoid, which requires a skin test, and the tetanus immunoglobulin, which does not require a skin test. Alcohol consumption must be avoided before using the tetanus toxoid. If the skin test is negative, the injection is safe. The other type, tetanus immunoglobulin, can be used directly without a skin test. Tetanus injections from reputable manufacturers and hospitals are safe. However, some people may experience symptoms such as pain, nausea, and vomiting during the tetanus injection. Typically, these symptoms can be alleviated and disappear with symptomatic treatment after the injection.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
46sec home-news-image

Symptoms of Tetanus

What are the symptoms of tetanus? Generally, the prodromal symptoms include overall weakness, headache, difficulty swallowing, or limited movement of the head and neck. If the condition progresses further, there may be typical symptoms such as difficulty opening the mouth or tense jaw muscles, leading to muscle spasms in the limbs, possibly causing spasms of the larynx, which can lead to breathing difficulties or even suffocation. Hence, it is a particularly severe manifestation. Some individuals may experience generalized tonic muscle spasms throughout the body, a milder manifestation with a typically longer incubation period. Therefore, in the treatment of tetanus, proactive active immunization should be pursued.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gao Jun
Emergency Surgery
43sec home-news-image

What should I do if the tetanus test is positive?

A positive tetanus result generally refers to a positive result in the tetanus antitoxin skin test. Tetanus antitoxin is primarily used to prevent tetanus infections. Some patients may experience allergic reactions to tetanus, manifesting as localized swelling, mild fever, and general discomfort during the skin test. In such cases, a desensitization injection method can be chosen, which involves administering the tetanus shot in several doses at intervals. Alternatively, tetanus immunoglobulin can be used, which is more expensive on the market but has the advantage of not requiring a skin test. It can be administered directly, safely, and effectively.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
43sec home-news-image

When to get a tetanus shot

A tetanus shot is generally recommended to be administered immediately after an injury for the best efficacy. If given within 12 or 24 hours, it still provides certain preventive effects. The tetanus shot mainly consists of tetanus antitoxin and represents passive immunization. It is usually advised in cases of deep wounds with small surface areas that can create anaerobic conditions inside. If tetanus bacillus is present in the wound and proliferates massively under anaerobic conditions, the patient may exhibit symptoms such as opisthotonos, asphyxiation, or even death. Therefore, it is necessary to administer tetanus antitoxin for prevention.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
40sec home-news-image

Do you need a tetanus shot for a scrape?

Whether tetanus vaccination is necessary for an abrasion depends on the severity of the injury. For a minor abrasion where the wound is not deep, you can repeatedly rinse the wound with hydrogen peroxide or saline solution to wash off contaminants. After that, disinfect with iodine and perform simple bandaging. Change the dressing as needed. Such abrasions do not require a tetanus shot. However, if the abrasion is severe, the wound is deep, heavily contaminated, or caused by rusty metal, it is essential to receive tetanus vaccination while cleaning the wound in the hospital to prevent tetanus.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
41sec home-news-image

How many times do you need to get a tetanus shot?

If tetanus vaccination is required due to an injury, one injection is sufficient. There are two types of tetanus shots. One is called tetanus antitoxin, which is extracted from horse serum. For this, a skin test is needed to check for allergies. If allergic, tetanus antitoxin cannot be used; if not, it can be used. The other type is refined tetanus antitoxin, also known as tetanus immune globulin, extracted from human serum. This type does not require a skin test and can be used directly, but it is more expensive than tetanus antitoxin. If tetanus treatment is needed for each injury, one injection is sufficient.